Toy elephant
Steiff
Category
Toys
Date
circa 1917
Materials
Wool, cotton, metal and sawdust
Measurements
Whole Object - 430 mm (height), Elephant -480 mm (length); 360 mm (height)
Place of origin
Germany
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 662069
Summary
A large 'Steiff' pull-along elephant on a grey metal frame with four wheels and made from grey wool (circa 1917). On his back is a small circular stud from which protrudes a metal loop and ring - when this is pulled he emits a 'trumpeting' sound. His trunk has been damaged and has been patched with a piece of grey cloth.The end of it however is also missing He has two cream tusks and black beady eyes with a cream rim. He has two large flat grey wool ears, the left one is torn from its head except for the tip. His tail has a hole near the join to the body and at the end. He is joined with two rows of stitching across his head going into one line across his back. He has been stitched right round his body with a small piece of red felt in the stitching. From the photograph provided with the item it appears this was where a form of saddle was once attached. He is stuffed with sawdust. On the underside of his left ear is a small grey stud marked Steiff. There are several small holes on him that are evidence of moth damage. His feet are mounted on a frame of four metal rods with four metal wheels divided into six segments. Detached from is body is his tail which is a curved piece of cane which has a tube of grey felt on the end stuffed with straw(?). The tube is slightly thinner at the end. The felt is ragged at both ends (possibly carpet beetle damage), exposing the straw where it is attached to the cane. Total number of items is 2.
Provenance
Donated to the Museum of Childhood by Mark Barron in August 1998.
Makers and roles
Steiff , maker